Orange Red Top Remix - Weekend to Work

Orange Red Top Remix - Weekend to Work by lemondroplinz featuring shoulder hand bags

Polka Dot Dress Remix

It's good to be back in the blogosphere! I was out of pocket for a few days. I thought I'd have time to do a few posts during that time but I should've known that I'd be too busy.

I'm back in the swing of things at work today, so no real posts yet, but here's a remix I put together a couple months back on Polyvore.

I'm remixing around the polka dot dress below. What's your favorite piece?

Polka Dot Dress Remix by lemondrop_linz featuring a fitted blazer

Dorothy Perkins white day dress, 30 GBP
Cami top, 34 GBP
DKNY long sleeve top, 120 GBP
Kookai striped top, 33 GBP
Ichi polka dot top, 27 EUR
Daytrip metallic top, $27
American Eagle Outfitters 3 button blazer, $40
Fitted blazer, $90
River Island yellow blazer, 35 GBP
BKE striped jacket, $32
Blazer, $14

I think I'm partial to the yellow blazer myself. :)

Maybe it's time for me to admit that yellow is my new favorite color. I still think pink reigns first though.

In other news, I'm gearing up to work on some cute baby items for a dear friend's baby shower coming up at the end of June.

Would y'all be interested in seeing some cute baby shower tutorials and crafts along the way? I can't share too many before the shower, but I can share them ALL afterwards!

Paper Doll, Edition 2

It was awesome getting up this morning and knowing I already had clothes picked out to wear!

I participated in The Paper Doll Project again and had the pleasure of working with Beck from At Her Best.

I asked my partner to style my outfit around my trouser pants. I love them dearly and try not to wear them to work every day. I think limiting them to one day a week for the past month has been pretty good!

So Beck chose to pair the trousers with a black/white polka dot top, one of my favorite floral cardigans, and some yellow shoes. I chose the yellow sandals over the yellow uncomfortable heels that are super cute but can't be worn for an hour straight yet.

All I did was add some accessories - a brown braided belt to define my waist, some yellow drop earrings, and a black bead necklace.

I loved my outfit all day. And I know comfort isn't most important, but seriously y'all, these are the cutest, most comfortable pants I might've EVER bought!

Here's a close up of my sandals. I couldn't take a good full outfit shot.

Oh and Lucy wanted me to pick her up and love on her so she can say Hi to all of you!

A big Thank You to Beck for being a wonderful partner. Go check out how I styled her outfit here.

And THEN, come see all the other Paper Doll Project participants over at Miss Vinyl Ahoy.

Hope y'all had a great hump day, see you soon!

Inspiration Monday Follow-up

So I am finally posting the actual outfit I wore for two birds' inspiration monday this week. Check out my last post to see what I thought I might wear without having my closet right in front of me.

Um, please just scroll down...I think it would look dumb if I linked to my last post.

Here are the changes I made.

Cardigan & Scarf: Target / T-shirt: Old Navy / Coach bag: gift from in-laws / Skirt: too old to remember

Tights: Urban Outfitters / Snakeskin Heels: Steve Madden

James Avery necklace

I think this outfit would work even better if my skirt was a little shorter.

I have to admit...I may like just the tee and skirt together the best.

The screen print tee that I have in a bluer shade of green was just being cut off too much by the skirt and not working. So I went with a plain kelly green tee instead.

The purple cardigan looked decent with the green tee, but the orange just caught my eye more and made me go Hmmmm, that's interesting.

Y'all know I love color (did you think I was gonna channel Paula Deen and say butter??), but I don't think I've ever paired green and orange together. I've just never thought of it.

But I think it's a pairing I like...almost as much as a fudgey brownie & a glass of milk!

Because of this challenge, I also found how versatile this polka dot skirt can be! I wore it higher today to make it skim the knee and look more empire waist. I'm thinking it will be an easy piece to remix.

How do you like the outfit I ended up with?

What changes would you make? Hey, I'm all for constructive criticism!

Inspiration Monday with Two Birds

So I was going to participate in Two Birds' Inspiration Monday that they did today. They share an inspiration picture of a certain look and then whomever wants to shares their take on that inspiration with clothes from their own closet.

Here's this week's look.

But this morning, I actually dried my hair and fixed it (only because I just got it cut on Saturday), so I lacked the motivation and the time to find a cute outfit within the parameter of the Monday challenge.

Here's what I wanna do instead. Now that I'm obsessed with Polyvore (and maybe have 5 more sets I have yet to share with you all...you are so excited now, aren't you?!!), then why not take a few minutes here and there at work today to recreate an outfit there?! I tried to use similar pieces to what I have in my closet so it would sort of be the same idea. And maybe...I said maybe...I will also go home and recreate the look with real live clothing! Then we'll see how my clothing compares to my Polyvore set, which compares to the Two Birds Inspiration Monday look.

Whew...are you even still with me?

If so, check out my Polyvore inspired look below.

2 Birds Inspiration Monday Polka Dot Skirt by lemondrop_linz

So let me explain this set. What I'm centering this look around is a black polka dot skirt, green tee, and ruffle belt that I own.

I couldn't just show you similar things from my closet that I'd pair with it. Obviously, I had to give myself...er, you...more options to choose from. Everything on the left, from those adorable yellow oxford heels and Kate Spade purse to the retro glasses and striped blazer...and even a blue blazer thrown in there for a slightly more casual look. This is what I'd want to own and wear with the outfit.

But my runner-up outfit, AKA items similar to ones I actually own, is on the right. I'd go with the snakeskin heels, my (still new) Coach bag, some bright yellow accessories, and then either a gray striped or purple cardi. I'd have to see the cardigan on to decide what I liked best.

Stay tuned this week to find out how I really wore my inspired look.

Notice I didn't say tomorrow...who knows which day this week I'll actually wear it. You'll just have to come back to find out!

So which are your favorite pieces?

Crafty Polka Dot Fun

I love to use polka dots as a main or coordinating fabric when I'm sewing. They make my job a lot easier when I'm trying to buy fabric because they complement most prints and solids so well.

Here are some past sewing projects that have incorporated polka dots as the main or complementary fabric.

Tie Onesie with stripes and polka dots

Cupcake Onesie with floral and polka dotted fabrics

Ribbon Tag baby blanket with polka dot back

One of my favorite aprons I've made! Beaters fabric with red polka dot top, trim, pocket and waistband. Adjustable neck tie was with black/white polka dot ribbon.

The Out & About Wrist Bag in black/white polka dots with pink handles.

Bag made of silk and perfect for a night out!

Coming soon...

polka dot scarf, pillows, and more fun baby onesies!

Want to see polka dots on something else? Send me your ideas for my next sewing project!

Polka Dots, how I love thee!

I have always loved polka dots. They are classic, fun, timeless, and just so cute! When I see them, I smile and know that things will always be cheery as long as polka dots exist.

Here are a few polka dotted clothing items I am totally digging right now from Modcloth.

Polka Dot Tie Neck Top

Jukebox Tights in the Pony

Beach Blanket Bingo One Piece

Got a Dot Date Blazer

Head over to joy, et cetera to check out Elle's super cute blog and her polka dot tights!

You'll find yourself wishing you were just as adorable as her. At least I do every time I visit.

What's your favorite polka dot piece you've seen online? Link up and share with us!

Tomorrow I will be showing some cute polka dot baby items I've made.

They will also be posted in my Etsy shop once I take some pictures during daylight hours.

Happy Friday friends!! :)

Here a Dot, There a Dot, Everywear a Polka Dot

This month's Everybody, Everywear challenge is polka dots!!!!!!

Could I BE more excited?!?!?!

I don't think so!!

I love a good polka dot. I even love a bad polka dot. Not sure there is such a thing but I'm sure I'd love it anyway. Maybe a bad polka dot is an ambiguously shaped dot...kinda like what the doctors say you should look for when you check out your moles for possible weirdness.

That's right. I just turned a polka dot post into a mole-checking post. Awesome.

Ok, so back to the polka dot.

Because of my love of all things polka dotted, I feel inspired by the Everybody, Everywear Challenge to do a week-long posting on polka dots. I will include current and past photos of me wearing dots, as well as just some of my favorite finds around the web of dotted fashion and fun items.

Sounds like a splendid time, right?

First on the polka dot posting agenda, here are some outfits I've recently worn that incorporate lovely polka dots. You'll notice that most of the dotted articles came from Target.

Remember when you only used to buy underwear, cheap flip-flops, and workout clothes there?

Hat, Belt, Tank: Target

Blazer: GAP (courtesy of Em's garage sale)

Jeans: Gap

Cardigan: Target

Striped tee & jeans: GAP

Necklace: Old Navy

Cardigan: Ann Taylor

Polka dotted tee: Macy's

Denim skirt: Ann Taylor

Tights: DSW

Flats: Target

Necklace: Old Navy

same light gray striped blazer from Em

red polka dot tank: Target

dress pants: NY & Co.

snakeskin heels: Steve Madden from ideeli

necklace: Walmart

Head to toe shot. This looks trippy.

I wanted to make sure I included polka dots with prints, because I love how easily they pair with stripes or florals.

But now I realize that ALL the outfits I wore were dots and prints.

Like I said, it works.

How do YOU wear polka dots? As an accessory, article of clothing, paired with a crazy print, or classicly paired with a solid color?

psbtw...why does the spacing change in Blogger during my post? How do I keep single line spacing throughout??

For Gran

my Mom & Gran

My grandmother, or Gran as we called her, was...a unique woman. It's hard to find the perfect words to describe her, but I'll do my best.

She raised 4 daughters with her husband of 50+ years, loved the Lord with all her soul and might, was a firm authority in her household, always gave her grandchildren little trinkets or gifts that related to their interests, was a lover of books & collector of movies, could cook a meal for 30 people without a recipe in sight, and was an amazing seamstress.

Gran and I have always shared our love of books and movies. I used to be one of those people who would buy any cheap movie I saw on sale...mostly the previously viewed ones at Blockbuster. Once I got past college, I settled down a little on the movie-buying craziness and only bought ones I really enjoyed. The problem is I like a lot! And don't get me started on books. I'm such a nerdy bookworm. I even liked reading books for school. My mom used to catch me secretly reading in my bed at night and she'd have to take my book away to get me to go to sleep, haha!

But what Gran and I have only recently shared is a love for sewing. As children, Gran would make all her grand-daughters the cutest dresses...and by cute I mean cute for the decade we were in. From left to right, my cousin Kara, myself, & cousin Daisy.
Gran made us these matching dresses for my aunt Alisa's wedding in 1986.

I was always in awe of the dresses she could make. For herself, she found a dress pattern she loved and made tons of dresses for herself in varying colors. I didn't realize until my 20s that her favorite pattern was kind of shapeless and considered by most people to be a form of a mumu. But Gran didn't care what people thought and she wore it as long as I can remember...with her Birkenstocks. :) "I know these shoes are kind of ugly, but I like them because my feet don't hurt in them. Other shoes squish my feet."

Birkenstocks

In June 2009, I decided I would try my hand at sewing. I actually had planned to make a skirt with my friend Susan. Her mom was going to help us. As I followed sewing blogs as "research" for my skirt, I started falling in love with Amy Butler fabrics and patterns and finding all sorts of online tutorials for bags. Then boyfriend (now husband) Kyle went out of town on a golf trip with his dad one weekend and I told him that I was going to sew myself a bag while he was gone. He laughed a little, knowing that I had NO idea what I was getting into. The last thing I had sewn was half of a skirt with my aunt a few years back and a blanket in high school for Project Linus. I'm often overly ambitious about projects I start.

I brought my pattern and fabrics over to my mom's house. I didn't realize that you had to wash all your fabrics first, so I had to wait for that to finish before I could start my bag. Thankfully, Amy Butler's pattern was very straight-forward, even for a novice like me, and my mother could help me with her machine. But of course, with my lack of experience, everything took a little longer than I had planned on. However, I did finish my Amy Butler swing bag that weekend, and even managed to make a simple tote bag as well.

my swing bag

I'm sure all sewers out there remember the first item they made. I count this as my first item as it was the first I made on my own. It wasn't my pattern, but it's my creation. I felt such pride in finishing it.

I love creating something new with my hands and my machine. And I love to take a pattern or idea and change it up to make it my own. And even more, I love it when someone buys a Lemon Drop item and LOVES the product, tells me it is exactly what they wanted. If I'm going to make money with something I love, I want to be sure that the person receiving it loves it as well.

I just wish I'd found this love of sewing when Gran was alive. For all the dresses she made for us girls over the years, I want to repay her with some gift of my own. I would make her an apron with butterfly fabric or a Bible cover for church. And I would sit with her and ask questions about sewing and take in her wisdom like a sponge.

So Gran, thank you for passing on some wonderful interests to me...even though I didn't fully appreciate some of them until you weren't around. I hope you'd be proud of me. You are a true inspiration in my life.

The last picture I have with Gran. Pretty appropriate that she was wearing polka dots as I am obsessed with them.